‘It is loneliness that makes the loudest noise. This is true of men as of dogs.” John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a novella about a bunch of people on a farm who are all lonely, except for two of them. This loneliness drives some of the people on this ranch to make “loud noises.”
Candy, an old man that lost his hand due to a farming accident, is one example of a lonely person. It is inferred that Candy is lonely throughout the book, but it is confirmed when he says, “I won’t have no place to go, an’ I can’t get no jobs.” (pg. 60) He goes on further to explain that he doesn’t have any relatives. Before acquainting with George and Lenny, Candy’s only friend was his old, rheumatism stricken dog, Dusty. When Dusty is “put down” (shot in the back of the head) Candy is devastated, and reaches maximum loneliness. Like many other lonely characters in this book, he turns to George and Lenny to help cure this loneliness (the only characters in this book who aren’t lonely)
Another example is Crooks. Crooks is a stable buck who got kicked in the back by a horse, and is in permanent pain. He is also excluded from most activities because he is black. He is forced to live in the stable, with nothing to accompany him but horses and books. This loneliness drives him into bitterness and meanness. When Lenny gives him company, he decides to let his emotions and deep feelings pour out, telling him, “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody.” (pg. 72) He, like Candy, turns to Lenny to ease his pain, his emotional pain that is.
Curley’s wife is so ignored, that she isn’t even given a name in the book besides ‘Curley’s wife.” All she wants is someone to care about her, so she always tries to talk to people, but she comes off as a tart (a slut). Although she is beautiful, no one flirts back with her. Partly because they think she’s just a scumbag tart, and partly because they don’t want to have to face her husband, Curley. She too turns to Lenny for a cure. Like Crooks, she lets her emotions flow saying, “Seems like they ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live.” (pg. 88) This doesn’t wind up so well for her though... Lenny accidentally breaks her neck and kills her.
In the end, everyone is lonely, even George, being forced to shoot Lenny. There are many more examples of loneliness in this book besides the three that I provided. These characters all made "loud noises", be it begging to live with someone, being bitter and mean, flirting with every living thing, or shooting your best friend in the back of the head. Eric Hoffer's quote is very true and real. "It is loneliness that makes the loudest noise.This is true of men as of dogs."
‘It is loneliness that makes the loudest noise. This is true of men as of dogs.” John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a novella about a bunch of people on a farm who are all lonely, except for two of them. This loneliness drives some of the people on this ranch to make “loud noises.”
Candy, an old man that lost his hand due to a farming accident, is one example of a lonely person. It is inferred that Candy is lonely throughout the book, but it is confirmed when he says, “I won’t have no place to go, an’ I can’t get no jobs.” (pg. 60) He goes on further to explain that he doesn’t have any relatives. Before acquainting with George and Lenny, Candy’s only friend was his old, rheumatism stricken dog, Dusty. When Dusty is “put down” (shot in the back of the head) Candy is devastated, and reaches maximum loneliness. Like many other lonely characters in this book, he turns to George and Lenny to help cure this loneliness (the only characters in this book who aren’t lonely)
Another example is Crooks. Crooks is a stable buck who got kicked in the back by a horse, and is in permanent pain. He is also excluded from most activities because he is black. He is forced to live in the stable, with nothing to accompany him but horses and books. This loneliness drives him into bitterness and meanness. When Lenny gives him company, he decides to let his emotions and deep feelings pour out, telling him, “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody.” (pg. 72) He, like Candy, turns to Lenny to ease his pain, his emotional pain that is.
Curley’s wife is so ignored, that she isn’t even given a name in the book besides ‘Curley’s wife.” All she wants is someone to care about her, so she always tries to talk to people, but she comes off as a tart (a slut). Although she is beautiful, no one flirts back with her. Partly because they think she’s just a scumbag tart, and partly because they don’t want to have to face her husband, Curley. She too turns to Lenny for a cure. Like Crooks, she lets her emotions flow saying, “Seems like they ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live.” (pg. 88) This doesn’t wind up so well for her though... Lenny accidentally breaks her neck and kills her.
In the end, everyone is lonely, even George, being forced to shoot Lenny. There are many more examples of loneliness in this book besides the three that I provided. These characters all made "loud noises", be it begging to live with someone, being bitter and mean, flirting with every living thing, or shooting your best friend in the back of the head. Eric Hoffer's quote is very true and real. "It is loneliness that makes the loudest noise.This is true of men as of dogs."